Four months later, Spring break
"Are you sure you can't come?" Elizabeth asked the morning before she was flying out to San Diego. "Maybe just for the weekend."
"I'm working on the condo project, babe. I need to be here right now."
He tied his necktie in the bathroom mirror and adjusted it to make it straight.
"You are looking quite handsome this morning, honey."
He smiled at her in the mirror as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Thanks." He put on a tiny bit of the cologne Elizabeth loved and kissed her. "Love you. Have fun running errands."
"I will. Heading to see Dad and Lynn. Then I'll grab some food for your lunches." She put some toothpaste on her toothbrush. "Then, I'll make us dinner and we can get to bed early tonight."
He knew what she meant but he teased anyway. "Yeah, you need that extra sleep since you have an early flight."
"Mm. Not thinking about sleep, sweetheart. But if you'd rather sleep…"
"You know that navy blue lacey…what'd you call it? Chartreuse?"
She giggled. "No. It's a chemise. And yes I know which one."
"Will you wear that?" he asked, his eyes lighting up.
"Sure."
"Great! Talk to you at lunch?"
"Yep. Drive safely."
"You too."
…..
Elizabeth pulled into the driveway of her parent's home. She was excited to see them. It had been a few weeks and she wanted to catch up.
When she walked in, she only heard quiet. "Mom? Dad?"
"Bethie? We're upstairs in the guest room!" William yelled.
"Okay!" She climbed the stairs and smiled when she smelled paint and heard the pounding of a hammer. "What are you up to?"
"Getting the room ready."
"Does this mean you were accepted?"
"Yeah and our case worker is going to visit next week so it needs to be perfect," Lynn said.
"It will be, sweetheart," William told her, kissing her cheek. He pounded the last nail and then hung the shelf. "There."
"Good job, Will," Lynn said.
"Are you hoping for a boy or girl, Mom?" Elizabeth asked Lynn.
"I don't have a preference really. Having a child at my age, you can't be too picky."
"You aren't old. You make it sound like you are seventy-five, dear," William chuckled.
"Well, sometimes I feel like I might be older than I am. But I'm grateful for every day."
William cupped her cheek and looked into her eyes, questioning what she was going on about.
Her eyes filled with tears. "Will you know, but Beth, I lost a daughter about ten years ago. She was twelve. The light of my life, my Lilly."
"What happened?" Elizabeth asked, her heart hurting for her stepmom. "If you want to talk about it."
"Her appendix ruptured. I just thought she had the flu but all her symptoms…they were because of the infection."
"Oh my. I'm so sorry." She hugged Lynn and just let her draw strength from her for a minute.
"I'm so blessed to have you and your sisters as my daughters now. I really hope that wanting another child doesn't make me selfish."
"Nonsense," Elizabeth told her. "You are giving your heart to a child or children who need it. That is the most selfless thing anyone can do."
"Thank you, sweetie. I really appreciate that. Now, lets leave your dad to continue hanging shelves and we can go talk about your trip over coffee and lunch."
"Hey, don't I get lunch?" William asked, chuckling.
"Of course, dear. Come down when you're ready."
…..
"Are you ready for your trip?" she asked, handing Elizabeth a mug of hot coffee.
"Yep. I wish Lucas was going with me, but yes. I miss Rosie and it will be great to see her again."
"She's probably getting close to delivery?"
"She has a month to go."
"Exciting!"
"Very!" Elizabeth was thrilled with how hers and Lucas' life was going. She was loving every moment of getting to know Lucas as her husband. She also wanted to graduate and get moving on her first property before juggling anything else.
"What are you thinking about, dear?"
"Being a mom. Down the road, of course, we are looking forward to being parents."
"That will be a wonderful time, sweetie. You take your time. Enjoy being just the two of you for a while."
"I am," she admitted, blushing. "He's the best."
"I'm sure he feels the same about you." Lynn sipped her coffee and sat down next to Elizabeth at the table. "Are you excited to be graduating soon?"
"Yeah, I'm ready for what comes next."
…..
The next morning, Lucas drove her to the airport and after a few feverish kisses, he allowed her to walk into the airport and fly away. Then he went to work and hoped for a busy day so he wouldn't think about her being so far from him.
About six hours later, Elizabeth landed in San Diego.
She texted Rosie and told her she was on San Diego turf and then she waited outside for her Uber to take her to the Coulter's apartment.
When she pulled in, Rosie was standing in the doorway, very pregnant, with a huge smile on her face.
"Oh my goodness, Rosemary Coulter. You are glowing!" Elizabeth squealed, hugging her friend.
"I missed you so much!"
"Me too."
"I made a late lunch. Lee should be home later. Let's eat."
"Zane hungry?" Elizabeth giggled.
"I don't know if he is, but I am. I made alfredo."
"Yum. Let me put my bags in my room and call Lucas and then I will be ready to eat."
"I'm surprised he didn't come with you."
"I asked but he has a huge project he's heading so he couldn't get away."
She sat on the bed in the guest room/baby room and called him.
"Hey husband," she said to his voicemail. "I wish I could hear your voice. I love you so much. Drive home safely and I hope we can talk later. Bye."
…..
Lucas saw that Beth was calling but he was knee deep in blueprints and plans and couldn't answer.
He was finally able to call her at his 9pm his time which was 6pm her time. But this time, she didn't answer.
Elizabeth, Lee and Rosie had gone out to eat at their favorite Italian restaurant and she had accidentally left her phone at their apartment.
She texted him late that night but he must have already been asleep. He texted her back the next morning, but it was so early, she was asleep this time.
"Talk to Lucas?" Rosie asked, rubbing her belly and making eggs at the same time.
"No. We texted a few times but I just want to talk to him. I want to see him."
Her phone rang about 9am. "Luke!"
"Hi, babe. I miss you so much."
"I feel the same way." Elizabeth walked back to her room and shut the door. "Its so early there."
"I know," he said, yawning. "I'm getting ready to leave for work."
"At six am? Babe…"
"I need to start early. I'm going to stop and get breakfast and some tea before heading to the office."
He yawned again and she heard him shut the front door and open the truck door.
"Lucas, please be careful. You sound exhausted. You shouldn't drive that tired."
"I am exhausted, but that's nothing new."
"Maybe not, but if you are too tired…"
"I'm not. I'm okay."
"I love you, Lucas."
"I love you more, babe. Talk to you soon."
As Lucas drove to work, he stopped by a coffee shop, got his tea and a breakfast sandwich and got to work by 7am. That was not bad. At least tonight, he should be able to get home at a reasonable hour.
As the day went on, he got more and more tired of course so by the time he went home at 8pm, he was questioning his decision to drive himself.
He felt himself struggling as he drove. He tried to call Elizabeth so she could try to talk to him to keep him awake but it didn't work. Then he dropped his phone on the floor. Before he could think, he reached for it and felt his truck sliding off the road into the ditch. Then pain.
…..
Elizabeth was helping Rosie make dinner when her phone buzzed. It was Lucas. "Hey, sweetheart! Its so good to talk to you. How was your day?"
"Elizabeth…"
"What's wrong?"
"Can you sit?"
"Sit? Why? I'm making dinner. I can't really sit right now."
"Sit on the floor. Something."
"You are freaking me out, Luke. What's going on?"
"What's happening?" Rosie whispered. Elizabeth shrugged and sat down on the kitchen floor.
"I'm sitting. Luke."
"Okay. I sort of got in an accident."
"What kind of accident?" Elizabeth asked, her nerves spiking.
"I wrecked my truck."
"What?! Lucas, are you hurt? Is anyone else hurt?"
"No one else was involved. I was really tired and I dropped my phone. I'm not sure what made me reach for it but I did and then I went into the ditch and hit a tree."
"Are you hurt?!"
"Broken left arm. That's all. Doc says I'm lucky."
"I told you that you were too tired to drive."
"I should have stayed somewhere and slept first. I know, babe. I'm sorry."
"How is it that I want to simultaneously smack you and kiss you? You could have been killed, Lucas Bouchard. Or someone else! I love you so much and our babies need their father. You need to be more careful."
"Babies? Are you trying to tell me something?"
"No…I just mean our future babies."
"Oh. Shame."
"What?"
"It's a shame. I bet our babies will be cute. I wouldn't be disappointed if we did that sooner rather than later."
"This is a conversation for when we are together, not over the phone, but that is good to know."
He was quiet for a moment. "I love you, Elizabeth. I promise, I am fine and I'll be more careful."
"Okay. I love you too."
"He got in an accident?" Rosie asked, when she stood up.
"Yes. He's fine. Broken arm. It's taking everything in me not to find a plane and fly myself over there."
"You finally earned that pilot's license?" Rosie teased.
"Yep and I'm good at it too."
They both giggled and finished cooking dinner.
"Movie night tonight, Beth? Lee is staying on the ship." Rosie asked.
"Popcorn with lots of butter and red vines?"
"What's a movie without those things?" Rosie asked.
"Exactly. A movie night sounds great."